Finger bar for use with stringed musical instruments



Nov. 19, 1935.

H. J. SPINA FINGER BAR FOR USE WITH 'STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Oct. 22, 1932 INVENTCR HENRY J- SPI'NA y M g W HiEATTURNE S Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FINGER BAR FOR USE WITH STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 3 Claims.

My invention more particularly relates to a bar or steel of the character used by musicians in playing a Hawaiian guitar or other stringed musical instrument.

One of the objects of my invention is the provision of a bar of the foregoing character provided with means by which a musical note on one of the strings may readily be lowered a half tone and a minor chord produced. Heretofore in using a steel bar, in order to produce a minor chord, it has been necessary for the player to hold the steel bar diagonally across the strings in order to engage the string on which the desired lowered tone is to be produced at the correct point. It is diflicult, however, for the player to manipulate the bar in this manner. Furthermore, he can use only the second and third strings at the time that the minor chord is produced.

It is to be understood that in use the strings are not depressed by the bar sufliciently to bring them into engagement with a fret over which it is located and that the same is unattached to the instrument when in playing position. The usual steel bar has a substantially continuous and preferably straight lower edge.

My invention provides means by which a minor chord may be produced while holding the bar transversely across the strings in the normal manner and at the same time all six strings of the instrument may be used for producing the chord.

Another advantage of my invention resides in the fact that the player may readily produce a diminished fifth on three of the strings, a dominant seventh and the device may also be utilized in melody work.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a preferred embodiment thereof and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of a Hawaiian guitar with the bar embodying my invention held by the player above the strings thereof;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a bar embodying my invention; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating the use of the bar in connection with the strings of the instrument.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, III is a Hawaiian guitar provided with the usual neck I I on which are mounted the usual frets I2. The strings are indicated generally at I3. A steel bar I4 is preferably provided with a curved fing'er clip I5 which is engaged by the index finger of the left hand of the player, as illustrated in Fig. l, the clip affording a convenient means for supporting the bar or,

steel on the finger of the player. The bar I4 is preferably of sufiicient length to exceed the span of said strings when held transversely of and above'the same.

In accordance with my invention, a member I5, preferably though not necessarily formed of metal and angular in form extends laterally from the bar l4. All parts of the member I6 are normally located above the lower edge of the bar I4 and above the level of the strings when the bar is held against the same in normal playing position, the parts being so arranged that when the member is depressed the end of the part I6I depresses a string located beneath the same, it being understood that in practice the string is not depressed an amount sufiicient to bring the same into engagement with a fret. The width of the part I6! is less than the distance between two adjacent strings. When a string is depressed, its tension is increased and the pitch of the note produced thereby is correspondingly raised. At the same time, as the member I6l is depressed, the end thereof describes the arc of a circle about the lower edge of bar I4 as a center, the end of the member I6I sliding along the string underneath towards the left as viewed in Fig. 3 thereby shortening the vibrating portion of the string and raising the pitch thereof. By varying the amount that the string is depressed therefore, the player may vary the pitch and produce the exact tone desired.

It will be noted that the finger piece I5 and the laterally extending bar I6 are so'located on the main bar I4 that when the bar is held by a finger of the left hand in the playing position indicated in Fig. 1, the bar I6 faces the keys of the instrument.

As an example of the use of the device, let it be assumed that the chord in the key of A major is to be produced. When the bar is held above the fret III and the strings depressed, and the pick, which it will be understood is usually carried on the thumb of the right hand, sweeps over the strings I33, I32 and I3I, the chord formed by the notes A, C sharp and E, respectively, is produced when the bar is held above fret number I2. The string I34 is an octave below the string I3 I, the string I35 an octave below the string I33 and the string I36 an octave below string I34. When the pick sweeps over the strings a major chord, therefore, is produced.

The member I6 is so mounted on the bar I4 that when the bar is held against the strings in the usual manner, the lateral extension I6I of the member i8 is located above the level of the strings of the instrument and specifically above the second string I32, and is in such a position that either the second or third finger, as desired, may be positioned above the lateral extension IBI of the bar and used to depress the same. In Fig. 1, I have for convenience, shown the third and fourth fingers bent back away from the neck in order more clearly to show the position of the second finger over the lateral extension IEI. It will be understood that in practice the third and fourth fingers, or the fourth finger alone, in case ie third finger is used for depressing the lateral extension I64, is laid upon the strings behind the bar I 4 in order to stop vibration thereof. Assuming that the bar I4 is located above the fret I2I and engaging the strings but with pressure insufiicient to bring them into engagement with the fret I21 above which the bar is at this time located, then by depressing the lateral extension it! and the string I32 which it engages in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, the vibrating portion of this string is lengthened by the distance between the fret I2I and the portion of the laterally extending member engaging the string with the result that the note produced by the string I32 is C natural rather than C sharp and the strings I33, I32 and I3I produce the minor chord of A, C and E, the other three strings producing the tones E, A and E, as above, so that the tones produced by all six of the strings make up the minor chord. The subdominant minor chord may similarly be produced, it being understood that the major and minor chords are the same for the dominant. Similarly, the major chord can be changed into a minor chord by depressing the laterally extending piece at any fret. The device may also be used for producing the dominant of the major chord. For example, when the bar or steel i4 is held over fret I5 (counting from the right in Fig. 1) which is the C chord, by dropping the laterally extending member IBI against and depressing the third string I33, 13 fiat note is produced which is the seventh of the dominant major chord.

By the use of the lateral extension when held over the first string I3I, a diminished fifth may be produced by depressing the first string by the lateral extension and playing only the first three strings I3I, I32 and I33. The device is also useful in melody playing on the lower five strings in which case a minor tone may be produced by depressing the lateral extension on the string I32.

While I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments it is to be understood that the words which I have used are words of description rather than of limitation and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of my invention in its broader aspects.

What I claim is:

1. A device for playing a stringed musical instrument comprising a tone bar having a smooth continuous lower edge adapted to extend freely across and above and engage the strings of said instrument and provided with an element secured to said bar at an intermediate portion thereof and extending laterally therefrom and of a width sufiicient transversely of said strings to engage a single string at the string engaging portion, said element being located in a position to be engaged by a finger of the player, the free end of said element being located above and near the level of the lower edge of said bar when the latter occupies a playing position, whereby the end of said element may be brought into engagement with a string by a finger of a player when said bar is held in playing position transversely of and over said strings of said instrument.

2. A device for playing a stringed musical instrument comprising a tone bar having a smooth continuous lower edge adapted to extend across and above and engage the strings of said instrument and provided with an element extending laterally therefrom and facing the keys of the instrument when held in playing position,

said element having a width sufiicient transversely of said strings suitable to engage a single string only, at the string engaging portion, said element being located in a position to be engaged by a finger of the player, the free end of said element being located above and near the level of said bar when the latter occupies a playing posi tion whereby the end of said element may be brought into engagement with a string by a finger of a player when said bar is held in playing position transversely of and over said strings.

3. A device for playing a Hawaiian guitar comprising a tone bar of sufficient length to span said strings when held transversely thereof and having a lower edge adapted to extend across and above and engage the strings of said instrument, said bar being provided with a finger piece adapted to be engaged by a finger and held thereby in playing position and with an element extending laterally from the side of said bar facing the keys of said guitar when held in playing position and of suflicient width to engage a single string only at the string engaging portion, said element being located in a position to be engaged by a finger of the player whereby the end i of said element may be brought into engagement with a string of said instrument when said bar is held in playing position transversely of and over said strings.

HENRY J. SPINA. 

